Joey Wilkerson

Fashion is a physical manifestation of your personality. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I think you can truly learn a lot about a person just by looking at their style.

How do you describe your style?

My style is a mix of my many interests. However, I’d say that it is heavily influenced by the Ivy League style, but there are also elements of street-wear mixed in as well. It’s a perfect balance between the two.

What are your favorite pieces?

I have a navy blue cardigan from American Eagle that I love because it has a chenille patch on the side that reminds me of the old letterman sweaters my parents used to wear. I also have a red hoodie from my own DJJD Black Ivy line that I designed with the same chenille patch on the side. My favorite footwear is my yellow and black Onitsuka Tigers by Asics. I call them my “Kill Bills” because they are the same sneakers Uma Thurman wore in the actual movie.

Where is your favorite place to shop?

I’m pretty sure I’m on a first name basis with the entire staff at Brooks Brothers at this point. The Chicago Brooks Brothers is amazing, and so is its RSVP Gallery. The RSVP Gallery has some great stuff in terms of street-wear. Of course, in Louisville, my friends Jeremy and Steve from TRIBE Clothing just opened up their first physical store, and have great pieces as well.

Who is your fashion icon, and why?

My fashion icon is Kanye West from the early era, between 2002 to 2006, because his style was amazing. He was really into the whole preppy look with the rugby sweaters, but he also brought his own style to it. He made it okay to wear a polo when most of young, black America was stuck on throwbacks.

Has being a DJ affected your style choices?

Honestly, I was into fashion before I became a DJ. However, being a DJ has given me an opportunity to put out a corresponding clothing line. My rule was – and still is – to make band shirts that don’t look like band shirts. Anyone can slap their band logo on a neon tee, but I wanted to design things that people really liked regardless of who it was connected to. The line, titled DJJD Black Ivy, is inspired by the timeless university look, but there are elements of street-wear rolled into it.

Miranda Rogers McDonald is the author of www.thechicsheet.net. When Miranda isn’t blogging about fashion or flexing her social media muscle, she is spending time with her husband and feisty Chihuahua, Niles. She believes in celebrating the smaller things in life, such as good wine and food, an interesting book and sitting on patios while enjoying conversations with her closest friends. She strives to one day join the ranks of the fashion editors that she idolizes, and to show the world that a girl from Kentucky knows a little something about style.